Later this month, the request will go to the County Commission, sitting as the Zoning Board, for a decision.

Woods Walk won a rezoning in September for 180 single-family homes on 89 acres at the northeast corner of Lake Worth Road and State Road 7.

At that time, Perry had asked for a density of three units per acre. He got two.

County commissioners balked at approving more than two units per acre, explaining they were concerned this would set a precedent leading to overdevelopment of a 10,000-acre area.

That largely undeveloped area stretched from south of Southern Boulevard to a mile north of Boynton Beach Boulevard, between Florida`s Turnpike and State Road 7.

Many properties there do not have access to sewer lines, although county water is available to most.

Commissioners indicated they saw this area as a new frontier and were reluctant to approve more than two units per acre. But some commissioners conceded the figure was chosen somewhat arbitrarily.

``The county commissioners got caught up in a philosophical discussion as to the overall planning of that 10,000 acres,`` Perry told the Planning Commission Monday. It represents only a small portion of the 225,000 acres still undeveloped west of the turnpike from the county`s southern to northern borders, he said.

Perry had protested vigorously at the County Commission hearing in September, but was forced to accept two units or nothing.

In requesting an increase to 2.5 units per acre, Perry said, ``The net effect of a density of two units per acre has simply been the imposition of substantially more burdensome financial conditions, without benefit of any bonus contemplated in the comprehensive plan.

``Some bonuses would have offset (my client`s) expenses in assuming these burdens,`` he said.

Perry also noted the county`s land-use plan allows up to three units per acre for that particular site.

County Zoning Director John Lehner confirmed that for planned unit developments in this area, densities up to three units per acre are allowed.

County water and sewer services are available, Perry said. Sewer lines lie just across the project`s northern border in the Tropical Country Estates subdivision, he said.

The residential property wraps around a parcel being developed as a shopping center in conjunction with Woods Walk.